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Homer · The Homeric Hymns Ὁμηρικοὶ ὕμνοι

Homer, The Homeric Hymns 20.1–25.7: Hymns 20 to 25: Hephaestus, Apollo, Poseidon, Zeus, Hestia and the Muses

Ancient Sources / Homer / The Homeric Hymns / 20.1–25.7

Six short hymns. Hephaestus taught men crafts, so that they no longer lived in caves like beasts; the swan and the minstrel sing of Apollo; Poseidon tames horses and saves ships; Zeus is the chief of gods; Hestia tends the house of Apollo at Pytho; and the Muses and Apollo are the source of singers, while kings come from Zeus.

Lines 20.1–25.7 · 352 words · click a number to copy its link
20.1–20.8
1Ἥφαιστον κλυτόμητιν ἀείσεο, Μοῦσα λίγεια, ὃς μετʼ Ἀθηναίης γλαυκώπιδος ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἀνθρώπους ἐδίδαξεν ἐπὶ χθονός, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ ἄντροις ναιετάασκον ἐν οὔρεσιν, ἠύτε θῆρες. 5νῦν δὲ διʼ Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην ἔργα δαέντες ῥηιδίως αἰῶνα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν εὔκηλοι διάγουσιν ἐνὶ σφετέροισι δόμοισιν. ἀλλʼ ἵληθʼ, Ἥφαιστε· δίδου δʼ ἀρετήν τε καὶ ὄλβον.

Sing, clear-voiced Muse, of Hephaestus famed for inventions. With bright-eyed Athena he taught men glorious crafts throughout the world, —men who before used to dwell in caves in the mountains like wild beasts. But now that they have learned crafts through Hephaestus the famed worker, easily they live a peaceful life in their own houses the whole year round. Be gracious, Hephaestus, and grant me success and prosperity!

21.1–21.5
1φοῖβε, σὲ μὲν καὶ κύκνος ὑπὸ πτερύγων λίγʼ ἀείδει, ὄχθῃ ἐπιθρώσκων ποταμὸν πάρα δινήεντα, Πηνειόν· σὲ δʼ ἀοιδὸς ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν ἡδυεπὴς πρῶτόν τε καὶ ὕστατον αἰὲν ἀείδει. 5καὶ σὺ μὲν οὕτω χαῖρε, ἄναξ, ἵλαμαι δέ σʼ ἀοιδῇ.

Phoebus, of you even the swan sings with clear voice to the beating of his wings, as he alights upon the bank by the eddying river Peneus; and of you the sweet-tongued minstrel, holding his high-pitched lyre, always sings both first and last. And so hail to you, lord! I seek your favor with my song.

22.1–22.7
1ἀμφὶ Ποσειδάωνα, μέγαν θεόν, ἄρχομʼ ἀείδειν, γαίης κινητῆρα καὶ ἀτρυγέτοιο θαλάσσης, πόντιον, ὅσθʼ Ἑλικῶνα καὶ εὐρείας ἔχει Αἰγάς. διχθά τοι, Ἐννοσίγαιε, θεοὶ τιμὴν ἐδάσαντο, 5ἵππων τε δμητῆρʼ ἔμεναι σωτῆρά τε νηῶν. χαῖρε, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, κυανοχαῖτα, καί, μάκαρ, εὐμενὲς ἦτορ ἔχων πλώουσιν ἄρηγε.

I begin to sing about Poseidon, the great god, mover of the earth and fruitless sea, god of the deep who is also lord of Helicon and wide Aegae. A two-fold office the gods allotted you, O Shaker of the Earth, to be a tamer of horses and a saviour of ships! Hail, Poseidon, Holder of the Earth, dark-haired lord! O blessed one, be kindly in heart and help those who voyage in ships!

23.1–23.4
1Ζῆνα θεῶν τὸν ἄριστον ἀείσομαι ἠδὲ μέγιστον, εὐρύοπα, κρείοντα, τελεσφόρον, ὅστε Θέμιστι ἐγκλιδὸν ἑζομένῃ πυκινοὺς ὀάρους ὀαρίζει. ἵληθʼ, εὐρύοπα Κρονίδη, κύδιστε μέγιστε.

I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. Be gracious, all-seeing Son of Cronos, most excellent and great!

24.1–24.5
1Ἑστίη, ἥτε ἄνακτος Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο Πυθοῖ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ ἱερὸν δόμον ἀμφιπολεύεις, αἰεὶ σῶν πλοκάμων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον· ἔρχεο τόνδʼ ἀνὰ οἶκον, ἕνʼ ἔρχεο θυμὸν ἔχουσα 5σὺν Διὶ μητιόεντι· χάριν δʼ ἅμʼ ὄπασσον ἀοιδῇ.

Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise —draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.

25.1–25.7
1μουσάων ἄρχωμαι Ἀπόλλωνός τε Διός τε· ἐκ γὰρ Μουσάων καὶ ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος ἄνδρες ἀοιδοὶ ἔασιν ἐπὶ χθονὶ καὶ κιθαρισταί, ἐκ δὲ Διὸς βασιλῆες· ὃ δʼ ὄλβιος, ὅν τινα Μοῦσαι 5φίλωνται· γλυκερή οἱ ἀπὸ στόματος ῥέει αὐδή. χαίρετε, τέκνα Διός, καὶ ἐμὴν τιμήσατʼ ἀοιδήν· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ὑμέων τε καὶ ἄλλης μνήσομʼ ἀοιδῆς.

I will begin with the Muses and Apollo and Zeus. For it is through the Muses and Apollo that there are singers upon the earth and players upon the lyre; but kings are from Zeus. Happy is he whom the Muses love: sweet flows speech from his lips. Hail, children of Zeus! Give honor to my song! And now I will remember you and another song also.

People and places in this passage

Passages in other works that tell of the same people and places, oldest and closest first.

  1. Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.3.1–6Zeus's children, the Muses, Orpheus and the birth of Athena
  2. Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.14.1–10Olympia: Zeus Averter of Flies, the white poplar and the altars in order of sacrifice
  3. Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 5.73.1–5.77.8The gods' discoveries and their Cretan origins
  4. Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.4.1–5Leto, Apollo and Artemis; Python, Marsyas and Orion
  5. Homer, Iliad 20.1–74Zeus calls the gods to council
  6. Homer, Odyssey 8.256–369The song of Ares and Aphrodite

English translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (1914). Original text: Hugh G. Evelyn-White (ed.), Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica, Loeb Classical Library, London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1914 (Greek text as digitised by Perseus).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.

The Homeric Hymns 20.1–25.7: Hymns 20 to 25